Commissions lawsuits

Court documents outline a payment schedule and a series of rule changes, including the elimination of offers of compensation through the MLS.

As a part of its proposed settlement, NAR agreed to significant policy changes that will impact how all agents do business — and how buyer agents get paid.

The settlement, which still requires court approval, adds a new rule prohibiting offers of broker compensation on the MLS.

The Whaley case had been the only major copycat lawsuit to name the company as a defendant.

Hanna was removed from Batton 2, marking the second time this year that the family-owned brokerage has been dropped from a buyer-broker compensation case.

Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Energy — parent of HomeServices of America — added as a defendant in the Gibson case as filing calls out the billionaire’s actions.

Defendants have submitted dozens of responses to a consolidation proposal — and most oppose the move.

The plaintiff, who paid a 2% commission, argues in the filing that “a truly competitive rate for buyers’ agents would in fact be 0%.”

The Batton 1 lawsuit was brought by buyers, not sellers, and will move forward against NAR, Anywhere, RE/MAX and Keller Williams with fewer claims.

A total of 22 defendants are named, including NAR, local and national brokerages, and several associations and MLSs.

NAR and several national and local brokerages are named in the suit — the first copycat commissions case to be filed in the state.

The lawsuit known as Spring Way also has gained new plaintiffs and a new name: Kay. Spring Way LLC, which had used Coldwell Banker, is no longer involved.

The lawsuits, known as Batton 1 and Batton 2, may soon be combined, with both moving forward under Judge Andrea Wood.

The trade association favors a consolidated approach but wants all 19 cases included — and doesn’t think the trial should be held in Missouri.

The latest filing focuses on the Northeastern part of California and takes aim at MetroList MLS as well as multiple associations and brokerages.

The latest case, which focuses on Los Angeles, lists 35 defendants including the largest MLS in the U.S., major brokerages and two dozen associations.

Defendants in the Gibson case — which no longer includes Hanna — were also denied a request for a delay on Wednesday.

The case originally targeted only NAR and state associations; a week and half later, 15 real estate brokerages were added to the list of defendants.

Five additional firms, including Pacific Northwest powerhouse Windermere, join the growing list of defendants named in a Northern California case.

Claim forms will be sent to eligible class members soon, but it's not clear how much money individual sellers will receive.